The off-session period for the 2024 State Examination in the Democratic Republic of Congo is underway and is arousing keen interest across the country. These tests, which mark the 57th edition of the series, were launched throughout the national territory as well as in schools following the Congolese education program abroad. The Lumumba Institute, located in the commune of Limete in Kinshasa, was the scene of the official launch of these tests, in the presence of numerous political and educational authorities.
The Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST) stressed that these tests are essential to assess the knowledge and skills acquired by students throughout their schooling, from preschool to the end of humanities. He expressed the hope that the results faithfully reflect the level of each candidate, thus highlighting the importance of these evaluations for the Congolese education system.
The distribution of candidates for this edition is carried out in a total of 2,959 testing centers across the country. The minister also provided advice to secondary school finalists, urging them to promote values such as peace, justice, work, honesty, integrity and probity. He insisted on the importance of not giving in to fraud, cheating or any form of dishonesty which could compromise their success and tarnish the reputation of the Congolese education system.
Despite the challenges linked to the security situation in certain regions of the country, the events are taking place in areas under rebel occupation in North Kivu. The educational authorities have taken all necessary measures to ensure the smooth running of the exams. Finalists from North Kivu province also benefit from an exemption from participation fees, a measure welcomed by local elected officials and residents of the region, who have faced difficulties linked to the rebel occupation.
At the same time, the government took the decision to refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council to denounce the crimes committed by the M23 rebel movement in North Kivu, described as war crimes and crimes against humanity. This approach aims to raise awareness among the international community of the tragic situation in the region and to obtain greater support to face these security challenges.
In conclusion, these out-of-session tests for the 2024 State Exam in the DRC are a crucial moment for Congolese students, but also for the future of education in the country. They highlight the essential issues linked to the quality of teaching, the integrity of examinations and the stability of the education system in a complex and demanding context.